For over 20 months, we sat on the Secretlab TITAN 2020 and tried it out for a month to see if a P30,000 gaming chair was worth the purchase. We did the same on the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 to see the difference between the two.
This review is the result of over a year's usage of the Secretlab TITAN 2020 and the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022.
In the duration of our 20-month review, we answered the following questions:
- Which Secretlab chair is more comfortable?
- Is Secretlab's softweave fabric better than its hybrid leatherette?
- Does Secretlab's leather crack?
- What's the difference between Secretlab TITAN 2020 and 2022?
- What is the best way to clean Secretlab leather?
Secretlab TITAN 2020 vs 2022: Which is more comfortable?
Although the two gaming chairs look very similar, the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 has a few distinguishing features from the 2020 series that you can only feel when you sit on the chair.
The most obvious and most important difference of the 2022 from the 2020 series is the seatbase: It feels firmer and less cushiony than the 2020 variant. This could be a deciding factor for some users who spend long hours on the chair for work or gaming. A firmer seat could be less comfortable for longer sitting hours, but this could be offset by adjusting the improved base tilt on the seat.
The front edge of the seatbase was also trimmed so there is less contact between the back of your knees and the seat. The angle of the edge was also adjusted to taper inward instead of outward like in the 2020 series, as you can see in the photos. This means there is less chance for the seat to cut off blood circulation in your legs.
Another major difference between the two chairs is the backrest. Secretlab is well known for its adjustable lumbar support on its gaming chairs, so when the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 came out, it was a question of how that feature was improved.
The lumbar support on the new series is more pronounced and more adjustable. Unlike the 2020 series, which was adjustable inward and outward, the 2022 series also created an upward and downward feature on the lumbar.
But after using the Secretlab TITAN Evo for nearly two years, I can say this additional feature on the lumbar support is not big a deal maker. I've seldom used the vertical adjustment. Actually, the backrest on the 2020 is just as comfortable as the 2022 series. It can be useful for some gamers but I am fine with either backrests.
There is also a very subtle improvement on the 2022’s seatbase’s tilt mechanism. The backward tilt was slightly decreased in exchange for improved stability and control. In other words, you won’t have a falling sensation whenever you max out your tilt. Adjusting the tilt backward significantly removes stress on the coccyx area, letting us work and play for more than 12 hours a day.
Deciding factors in choosing between Secretlab TITAN 2020 vs 2022
The Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022’s style is a winner for us. One of the reasons we were excited to get the chair was because of its magnetic features that are not available in its predecessor. Unlike the 2020 series, it has a magnetic pillow, whose upholstery and embroidery were also improved.
But generally, the Secretlab TITAN 2020 and Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 are very similar in structure and comfort. We don't even adjust a lot on the vertical lumbar support on the 2022 series, so that's not a huge deciding factor in buying this chair. Both are comfortable, but if you have to choose, do it based on the looks and design that you like. In this case, the cool magnets of the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 won us over.
The 2022's pillow is also more streamlined compared to the non-magnetic 2020 pillow. The 2022 also has removable magnetic foam armrest tops, which you can replace with a CloudSwap metal armrest.
Is Secretlab's softweave fabric better than its hybrid leatherette?
After more than a year of using Secretlab's softweave fabric and hybrid leatherette, we ultimately decided that Secretlab's hybrid leatherette is better and more practical than its softweave fabric because of several reasons.
First, the hybrid leatherette is so much easier to maintain and clean than the softweave fabric, which easily accumulates dirt over the months. It takes me one minute to clean the hybrid leatherette using a special cleaner for leather, and its quality has not diminished ever since I've had it.
Second, the softweave fabric fades as you clean it. There is really no good way to maintain a fabric gaming chair like this. Pray that you don't spill coffee or other liquids on the seatbase of the softweave fabric, you'll never be able to clean those out.
So, between Secretlab's hybrid leatherette and softweave fabric, we'd go for the hybrid leatherette.
Does Secretlab's leather crack?
We've waited nearly two years before we could answer this. Now that we've been using the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 hybrid leather for almost two years, we can safely answer that it does not crack easily, provided that you clean it once every two weeks, which is not a lot of maintenance, to be honest.
How to clean Secretlab Leather
To keep the leather looking brand-new and protected from sweat, I use Purewax Interior Detailing and Protectant, which costs P500 at the Shell Station in Magallanes. It was able to heal the backrest of my Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022, which was starting to show wrinkles because of chemical reactions due to its constant contact with my sweat. After regular use of Purewax, the backrest looked brand-new again.
You can also opt for the Secretlab Premium Leather Cleaner, which you can buy at Secretlab's official store at Shopee for P1,490. I use this once a week to keep my gaming chair smelling fresh and clean. It also deactivates the acidity from my sweat, helping me keep my gaming chair leather looking good.
You can use a soft cotton cloth to clean your Secretlab hybrid leather. Spray the product directly on the surface of the leather, let it sit for a couple of seconds, then wipe it in a circular manner to spread the product. This coats the chair with a film that acts as a shield against sweat, the worst enemy of leather. It also provides a nice luster to your gaming chair.
Secretlab TITAN 2020 vs 2022: Our Verdict
Currently, the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 is the highly coveted gaming chair by esports champions. After nearly two years of using the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022, it has proven to be sturdy, durable, and long-lasting, while providing the ultimate comfort.
Despite using Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 for more than 12 hours a day for the past 20 months, it still feels like I'm sitting on a brand-new gaming chair.
You can shop for your dream gaming chair at Secretlab's official store on Shopee.
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